Chapter 35
Chapter
Thirty-Five
Dhara
We’d spent all morning working collectively as a pack, getting everything prepared for the cookout. Even though Lana insisted that they’d get things ready when they got here and not put that burden on us.
Conrad disagreed, so he and August went out that morning to gather the groceries we needed while Lachlan, Gavin, and I cleaned the house like crazy.
Conrad trusted Lana to take care of Gavin while we were gone, and I wanted to get to know them and trust them, too. It would be nice to have people as a backup. People who would keep him safe from my mother.
With the trial coming up and worries about his family not liking me, it was hard not to freak out.
I tried my best to keep my face neutral as we worked. Gavin started on a salad, following Conrad’s instructions, while Lachlan and I prepped the rest of the sides.
Lana said they’d bring dessert, so we didn’t have to worry about that, and August was manning the grill.
Of course, they’d bought one that was big enough to cook for an entire army.
Between the two packs that were coming our way, it was probably for the best.
We’d just put the cheesy potatoes into the oven to bake when I heard tires on the driveway.
“Oh God,” I choked out. Gavin was right there by my side. He’d been so excited all afternoon, but now he looked nervous.
“They’re going to love you, Gav,” I reassured him.
Conrad walked past, pressing a kiss to my forehead before giving Gavin’s shoulder a squeeze.
“They are,” he confirmed before walking to the front door and pulling it open.
“Big brother!” a woman’s voice rang out before a petite blonde launched herself at him. He caught her in a bear hug, and I could actually see him beaming with happiness.
I think he needed this as much as she did. This was exactly how I pictured mine and Gavin’s relationship in the future. No matter where life took us we’d always be there when the other needed.
“Okay, I’ve seen you enough. Where are they?”
She peeked around him and spotted us standing there frozen.
Lana was gorgeous. She was dressed in a light, flowing, white top, wide-leg jeans, and her hair was in one of those timeless messy buns with little tendrils hanging around her face. She was also very pregnant.
Her eyes were the same color as Conrad’s, and the way she smiled at us, not giving us a chance to overthink before pulling us into a big hug, had me relaxing.
“I’m so excited to have another girl in the family,” she said as she backed away. “Oh, and you’re gorgeous.”
She released me.
“And you must be my nephew,” she said, looking down at Gavin.
His eyes were wide, and he nodded.
“I’ve seen some clips of you playing. You’re pretty good out there on the ice.”
“You’ve seen clips of me?” he questioned.
“Oh yeah. Conrad went into full ‘papa bear’ mode. He sent tons of them during your games.”
Gavin looked so shocked but touched at the thought of that. Damn if it didn’t affect me, too.
Conrad wasn’t the overbearing type of alpha. He didn’t demand that everything fall into place the way he wanted it. He genuinely cared that we were comfortable on our own terms.
He was exactly the type of alpha I needed.
A group of guys filed in behind Lana. She wouldn’t have even needed to tell me they were hockey players for me to know. They had that ‘hockey star’ build and the unwavering confidence of men used to being observed.
“These are my mates. The one with the white-blond hair is my alpha, Cade. Lennon is the redhead. We’ve got Kieran with the dark hair. My beta is Wilder. Then we have Mason, another delta.”
“Oh my god,” Gavin said, his entire face lighting up as he took in each one of them.
“I mean, we are hockey gods,” Mason joked, flashing him a smile.
Lana rolled her eyes, and one of the other guys shoved him, making him laugh. That seemed to snap my brother out of his shock.
“Thanks for coming. We really appreciate the support,” I said, hoping my smile was friendly and not terrified.
“It was an easy choice. I’ll always be here for my brother. I’m sure you know our parents weren’t exactly gold-star parents. You learn to make your family yourself. That’s what we’re doing here.”
She squeezed my hand while Gavin asked about the Wardens arena.
“Enough serious talk today,” Lana said, hooking her arm in mine. “We’re here for a celebration. We also got a room nearby. We want to be able to celebrate with you when everything is said and done, too.”
Just like Conrad, she seemed confident in the outcome of this trial. With so many people certain everything was going to work out in our favor, it was hard not to agree.
Now that more than just a few corrupt cops and their contacts were involved, there was no way they could act like she was innocent. This wasn’t something to be swept under a rug.
She’d assaulted me on record where they couldn’t deny it. Now the rest was coming to light. All the corruption and brushing off reports. The judge would see it all.
I was praying that in just a few days she would finally have to face the consequences she should’ve faced years and years ago. Because at the end of the day, I was no longer her punching bag. She’d lost every hold she had over me, and I had no intention of giving that back to her.
“Come on,” Lana said. “Let’s go check out this backyard of yours.”
Honestly, the woman was pure sunshine. From the stories Conrad had told me, she’d been through hell herself. Yet she fought for the deltas to stay in the league and had moved on with a real pack.
I hated that she’d gone through something so traumatic, but it was nice seeing her on the other side of it.
We’d barely sat down when Lachlan brought over a glass of sparkling lemonade for each of us. He gave me a wink before walking away, and she let out a small chuckle.
“Aren’t they just the cutest when they’re falling in love?”
I laughed but she was serious.
“I promised myself that I would never trust a hockey player again after my first pack. They were also hockey players, and they were the kind of men that neglected their omega without a second thought. But this pack? They love me. Baggage and all. I never have to worry about not being enough. They’re going to be incredible dads, too. ”
“I’m just not used to this,” I said, gesturing toward the guys. “Having someone to rely on. Letting people in. Trusting. Any of it.”
“Well, I’m obviously biased because Conrad is my brother, but he’s the one I called when I was on the verge of death.” Her voice quieted as she stared over at Conrad. “He saved my life. If he hadn’t picked up the phone that day... they would’ve let me die.”
Her fingers toyed with the condensation on her lemonade, fighting through the emotions that never quite went away, no matter how loved she was now.
“They promised they’d be home for my heat. Insisted that I shouldn’t take blockers. Then they didn’t show up. I spent a week alone in that house, in a full heat.”
“Oh my God,” I breathed, reaching out instinctively. "I've never been through a heat,” I whispered. “My body’s never allowed them because I was always so stressed.”
She leaned over and pulled me into a hug. It was so unexpected, but knowing she was part of Conrad had already made me comfortable.
Her genuine sweetness had me leaning into it, soaking in the touch because I was still admittedly touch-starved, even though the guys were constantly loving on me.
“Your mama is an awful person. She never deserved sweet people like you and Gavin. We’re going to spoil the heck out of that kid.”
The idea of a big family that cared about each other like this was so hard to imagine for me and Gavin. It was his dream. I’d given up a long time ago but they were reviving that hope again.
My brother was soaking in every smile they threw his way. His life was just as isolated as mine had been. He was ready for a change.
The door burst open and this time, it was Lachlan who hurried to greet our guests.
A dark-haired delta stormed ahead of a group, dragging an omega behind him.
She was wearing adorable black overalls with little bats on them and a white crop top underneath. Her hair was twisted into space buns, and she was grinning just as widely as Lachlan hugged his friend.
There were several other men behind her, and she was the one who did the introductions this time, as her hands rubbed her pregnant belly. She must have been further along than Lana judging by the baby bump she was sporting.
“Well, since my delta is so rude, I’m Roxie,” she said with a little wave. “That’s Kota, Lachlan’s best friend. My alpha, Hayes,” she said, pointing to the older man with them. “Then my omega Rylan, our other delta, Greer... and bringing up the rear is Chorizo.”
As if that was all he was waiting for, a giant fluffball burst past them.
“A dog!” Gavin screamed. The dog launched himself at him, rushing forward in a flurry of kisses and practically tackling my laughing brother who fell on his butt.
I’d never in my life witnessed him laughing so hard or so freely.
“Well, I think Chorizo made a new friend,” Roxie said.
She approached us with the other omega, Rylan, right there with her, both laughing as they watched my brother wipe slobber from his face.
“It’s nice to meet you,” Rylan said. “I’m assuming you’re Dhara?”
“I am,” I confirmed, shaking his hand.
Lachlan came to stand beside me, his chest practically puffed out.
“This is my omega.” He smiled down at me before patting Kota on the shoulder. “This man got me through some tough times. This is my best friend.”
“The best friend you abandoned,” Kota shot back. He didn’t look upset. In fact, he looked around before instinctively wrapping an arm around his omega. “Nice place you got here for yourselves, Evans.”
“Thanks,” Lachlan said as he glanced around. They’d really brought the house together over the last few months.
Now that introductions were over everyone started to branch off. Gavin and Chorizo ran around while the guys chatted and Roxie settled at the table with me and Lana. Lach grabbed her a lemonade as well.